Abstract: A coffee brewing system comprises: a housing defining an interior cavity for storing a volume of water; a fill valve for controlling flow of water into the interior cavity through an inlet pipe; a plurality of liners housed within the interior cavity and surrounded by the water in the interior cavity; one or more heating elements positioned within the interior cavity to heat and maintain the temperature of the water; a plurality of brew baskets, each of which is received in one of the plurality of liners and configured for holding a quantity of coffee grounds; a plurality of pivoting spray arm assemblies, each said pivoting spray arm assembly configured for pivotal movement relative to the housing; one or more pumps, each said pump for conveying water from the interior cavity of the housing to a respective pivoting spray arm assembly, which then delivers the water to a selected brew basket for making brewed coffee; and a control system for controlling operation of each said pump, each said heating element, an

Abstract: A pump assembly for a chilled beverage dispenser includes an axle oriented in a substantially vertical orientation at a predetermined location along a bottom wall surface of the dispenser bowl; an impeller which rotates about an axis defined by the axle; an inner pump shell that fits over the axle and defines an internal cavity for enclosing the impeller without impeding rotation of the impeller; and an outer pump shell that fits over and engages the lower pump shell, with a cavity being defined and maintained between the inner pump shell and the outer pump shell. As the bladed impeller rotates, beverage is drawn into the pump assembly along the bottom wall surface of the dispenser bowl, and is also discharged along the bottom wall surface of the dispenser bowl, thus providing maximum agitation of the beverage.

Abstract: A chilled beverage dispenser has a “holeless” bowl and uses a cradle evaporator to achieve cooling of the beverage. In one exemplary embodiment, the cradle evaporator comprises three panels—a bottom panel and two side panels, the side panels being bolted or similarly fastened to the edges of the bottom panel in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the bottom panel. The bottom and side panels each define a continuous and sinuous channel, which carries a cooling medium. The dispenser bowl preferably is constructed of a thin-walled plastic, such that when the dispenser bowl is received in the cradle evaporator, heat transfer is achieved through the bottom wall and portions of the side walls of the bowl.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for brewing coffee or a similar brewed beverage allows a consumer to select a desired strength, and then, a serving of the brewed beverage is promptly brewed and dispensed in response to that selection. Regardless of the selected strength, a constant volume of beverage results; in other words, the strength of the brewed beverage is not altered by merely adding or subtracting water.

Abstract: A combination grinder and brewer for grinding of coffee beans and delivering ground coffee to a brewing chamber for the brewing of a coffee beverage includes a fan for creating a positive pressure air blanket at the interface between the delivery system and the brewing chamber so as to minimize movement of moistened air from the brewing chamber into the delivery system.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a back splash wall with a plurality of vertically spaced openings to provide edges for the connection of the drain tray assembly, said drain tray assembly comprising at least one drain opening and a substantially vertical back wall terminating in a channel adapted to receive and be positioned over an edge defined by one the vertically spaced openings of said back splash wall. The drain tray assembly can be vertically adjusted by lifting the channel off one edge of the back splash wall and then repositioning the same over another edge of the back splash wall.

Abstract: A brewer apparatus includes a tray assembly for positioning and securing a pod enclosing a beverage component below the brew head of the apparatus. The tray assembly is generally constructed so as to allow selective movement of the tray assembly between a first position where it is positioned below the brew head, and a second position where it extends away from the housing of the brewer apparatus, thus allowing access to the quantity of beverage component. Furthermore, the brewer apparatus can be pivoted between a closed position where it is sealed against the tray assembly for brewing and an open position where it is pivoted upwardly and away from said tray assembly to allow for the selective movement of said tray assembly from said first position to said second position.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention pertains to a post mix multi-station dispensing apparatus which is isolated from the fluctuations experienced in using outside supplies of water. The apparatus is provided with a single reservoir of water and, associated with each serving station, a hopper storing powder flavorant, a metering device for metering the flavorant, a holding tank for holding a beverage to be dispensed at a predetermined rate at the associated serving station, and a water delivery system. While a beverage is being dispensed from the holding tank, the water delivery system delivers water from said reservoir at a rate essentially the same as the predetermined rate to a mixing area where the water and powder flavorant is mixed in a predetermined ration of powder flavorant-to-water ratio. This newly mixed beverage is added to the holding tank at the same rate as the beverage is being dispensed.

Abstract: The present invention involves a grinder/brewer coffee beverage dispensing apparatus having a pair of basket support arms with front end portions adapted to grasp beverage baskets and a configuration essentially complimentary to the circular shapes of beverage baskets. The arms are pivotally mounted for simultaneous horizontal and vertical movement with respect to the frame of the beverage dispensing apparatus, permitting the arms to graps baskets having varying flange widths and diameters.

Abstract: An espresso apparatus having a brew head which is in liquid communication with a heat exchanger that is positioned within a boiler and a secondary heater for supplng additional heat to the water in the boiler, the second heater being turned off when the pump supplying water to the heat exchanger is on. The brew head has a thermostat component and an electric heating element positioned about the brew head infusion chamber. The thermostat component is independent of the heater coil in the boiler, set at a predetermined temperature level, and is responsive to changes in the temperature of the brew head and appropriately opens or closes the circuit connected to the electric heating element.